Advice on how to look for and apply for jobs

HOW TO FIND ADVERTISED JOBS

Spread your job search as wide as possible, as there are lots of places to look. On this page you can read about the main sources of advertised vacancies. Remember that many jobs aren’t advertised at all, so you’ll have to use networking to find out about them by word of mouth.

Jobcentres

Personal advisers can help you find the vacancies that are right for you. They can also tell you about available government training schemes. They’ll take into account any additional needs you might have, like childcare or if you have a disability.

National Careers Service

Staff at National Careers Service offices offer careers advice interviews, and they may also know which employers in the local area are recruiting. These may be job vacancies or training vacancies, such as apprenticeships.

Recruitment agencies

Organisations employ recruitment agencies to find suitable people for their vacancies. They may specialise in temporary work, permanent work or specific sectors.
Agencies can be useful to help you find jobs that aren’t advertised to individuals online or in the press. They take a fee from the company that hires you, so they should be motivated to find you a role.

When choosing which agencies to approach, check their websites to see if they have the type of vacancies you’re interested in. You can sign up with more than one agency – this way you’ll get access to more jobs.

When using an agency:

ask if they commonly deal with vacancies in the kind of work you’re looking for

treat an interview with the agency like an interview with an employer

ask for feedback if you’re not placed in a job

keep in touch with the agency regularly and let them know your availability

be open to temporary work if you can, even if you’re looking for permanent work, as temporary jobs can lead to permanent work

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